Copywriting advice? No thank you

16 November 2009

From time to time, I get e-mails asking me for advice on how to get started in copywriting, who to approach, how to write such and such etc.

Now, I’m quite an obliging bloke and, even though the request has probably cost me at least £1.50 on Adwords, I usually send a fairly prompt reply. After all, I remember my first few months as a freelance copywriter. It wasn’t easy, and I’m happy to give something back.

But now, all that is going to stop. No more Mr Nice Guy. So, if you were going to write to me for advice, think again.

Why? Well, last week, a seemingly confused and well-meaning lady wrote to me asking how to write for SEO. I gave a long, detailed and almost immediate reply. Have I heard from her since? Nope.

If this was just a one-off, I’d merrily carry on dispensing my words of wisdom. But it’s not. I reckon I receive a ‘thank you’ from about one in twenty of these people.

Now, if you were going to e-mail me for advice and you were one of the 5% who would have offered even a cursory thanks, I apologise. To the rest of you, a loud and long raspberry.